Okay. My mom told me that she knows someone who takes Suboxone for fibro treatment. And she can't take any other pain meds because if she did, it would kill her. Suboxone is used to help people come off narcotics and any other kind med like that. I am really confused about this. Has anyone else heard of this drug being used for fibro treatment??~MDD, Fibromyalgia, OCD, Anxiety Disorders, IBS, TMJ, Arthritis~

I take Suboxone so hopefully I can give you some answers. The main ingredentant in Suboxone is Bupernorphine which has been around forever. Before Suboxone it has been used in other countries in very very small doses (suboxone comes in milligrams while these come in micrograms) that they use just for pain, and they also have it in patches. Right now I know the patch form is in clinical trials in the US for pain. With Suboxone they mixed the Bupernorphine with naloxone to prevent abuse so it can be tapered off easier. But Bupernorphine IS a partial opiod agonist painkiller, but Suboxone is made so if one was to try to snort or inject it would cause withdrawals in a person that is tolerent, or if your not tolerent it will just not do anything cause the naloxone comes into effect, where if you use it subligual like your suppose to, the naloxone has no effect because it cant be absorded that way. So while Suboxone is used for people addicted (or like me who choose to come off pain meds all together and needed some help with tapering) it is used off label for pain, but in very small doses closer together then one takes it for addiction. Like I take 8mgs every 8 hours on normal (somewhat)non-pain days, or if I am in alot of pain I use 4 mgs every 4 hours, but usually people will use 1-2 mgs every 4-6 hours for pain. these pills do have a half life of 37 hours so one has to be careful. But bupernorphine is one of the strongest pain killers out there. So to answer your question, Yes, it can be used for fibromyalgia pain, and it's a wonderful idea cause it doesnt get you as buzzed/high/sleepy like full opoid painkillers do, and you dont have to worry about tolerence. I have been on EVERY painkiller in the US for pain, and I have to say Suboxone has been the best so far for my pain, it really works.

Been on Diability since I was 22 for Migraines and chronic Pancreatitas(started the processes when I was 19, I'm 25 now) but am working to get off of it ASAP,I want to be a nurse and work at a Impatient rehab with people with addictions of all kinds

I have been in pain for over twenty one years and was on OxyContin for 10 years and over 21 years on many other pain killers. It all started when I got hurt on a job that I had worked there for 8 years and doctors said that there was nothing they could do for me because they had no clue why I was in so much pain all the time even on high doses of pain killers and I was so addicted that even after detox and many doctors with no answer except I had chronic pain and all they could do for me is keep me on pain meds. Until I was red flagged from every place I when so I started buying them from the street. Then one day I went to a arthritic specialist and told me I have fibromyalgia and it explained every thing that I was going though and why I was alway in pain and stressed out and couldn't sleep and every thing that goes with fibromyalgia at it worst case. So now that I knew what was wrong with me and put me on the meds to treat it which i could not take and was still addicted to pain killers and couldn't get them from any doctor anymore so I was a mess until I found out about Suboxon and got on it ASAP and it worked when nothing that I have every taken did. At first it was because I was so addicted to pain killers but come to find out it was the best thing that ever happened to me in years of suffering with fibromyalgia. It didn't take every thing away but it helps with the pain and the IBS but not the problem of no sleep and the stress which just finding something that works took the stress of not knowing what was wrong with me but I take other meds for that which don't always work and it doesn't work for the headaches. Now that I have moved I can't get it but I'm trying to find a doctor but it's hard because they don't treat use people with fibromyalgia with Suboxon and every place I have tried is full In CT but to answer you question yes Suboxon works the best for fibromyalgia.

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. I am glad you got on suboxen, and I hope you find a doctor soon. It is hard when you move to get somebody to follow up with your treatment. Best wishes for that.

I am glad you chimed in with your experience with Suboxon. It really helps to understand how these meds work. I take percocet. it helps me.

When you get the chance, if you are interested, we have a thread called "fibro 101". It is the first thread on the forum. There is a ton of good information there and I think you would enjoy reading there. Please take some time and check it out.

Sassy and Martin- I take subutex for pain which is buprenorphine. It's one part of the suboxen without the naloxone. I too got addicted to narcotics and wanted off them. So I started on suboxone for a few years until I lost my medical coverage. Then my pain management knew I had to stay on something so he told me about subutex or buprenorphine. It was cheaper then suboxone since I was paying cash for a year. You can mix other drugs with this because it doesn't have the naloxone in it. So my Dr. trusted me.

I also found out that certain Dr's only can write the script for suboxone. They can only have so many on them at their practice. They are monitored very closely. This is why you see a waiting list to get on suboxone. Now subutex is different. Any Dr. can write subutex who has a DEA number for narcotics. They have to specify that they are writing subutex prescription for chronic pain.

Subutex is kind of new using it for chronic pain. It has been the best drug I have ever used for my fibro. It doesn't take care of severe pain from an injury or surgery. I see more and more Dr's using it for chronic pain. You have to be careful with them still because they are classified as a narcotics. I take 8 mg twice daily. You can read stories on line about how it gave peoples lives back to them. You never feel drugged or you don't have cravings for the drug. It is considered an expensive drug still. I finally have Medicare paying for mine. It sad that a bottle of percocets is cheaper then subutex or suboxone. This is why people don't change over.

Martin maybe you can find a Dr. that will write subutex for you. You can call your pharmacist in your town and ask them your state requirement for Dr's to write subutex prescription. Many Dr's that are not in pain management are not familiar they can write the script. My regular Dr. Just had to have a class c drug licence and write used for chronic pain. Most Dr's have class C licence. I hope you can get back on it. I use silver script through Medicare to pay for it. I wasn't sure about your medical insurance. Good luck!

ak angel, my old pain doctor told me that they had to take a CE course to be licensed for buprenephrine patch prescriptions too. I didn't ask too many questions but I do know that he personally loves conservative pain meds so I don't think hes limited which patients take it. I wonder if its all transdermal meds used for pain management in general? OR, I do know that once a PT is on 'subs' they are monitored nationally in a registry and it alerts doctors if your undergoing sub treatment and try to pick up an opiate at a pharmacy. (I read waaaaay too much when I was researching Butrans, lol, surprised I can even remember it!)

I personally love Butrans. They make it a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning, especially during a flare. The only downside, this may only be with bupenephrine, is that it has a higher affinity to bind to receptors so it limits the efficacy of BT meds by hogging the sites, so to speak, and I have experienced this first hand. But I would rather have it than not so I keep taking it...I just go through meds faster. (And yes the next obvious question is why I don't just increase the Butrans, but anything over 10mcg makes me way too sleepy. Like not-functional sleepy.)

Heavens yes. I've had fibromyalgia for 16 years. Ive tried Vioxx (taken off the market), Neurontin, Celebrex and Savella; they either made me feel worse or did nothing. about 2.5 years ago I found myself developing a problem with hydrcodone because I had to keep increasing the dosage. Subutex saved my life (no it won't kill you if combined with other meds, but if you try to take it with an opioid such as Vicodin, you'll go into withdrawal type illness). I work full time, manage a household and even get some mild exercise a few times weekly. Why? Because I take 1, 8mg pill per day. I only wish it wasn't so taboo. I see an internist who treats a small number of pain patients this way, and it's a shame the way uneducated pharmacy technicians look at you when you hand them the script. I now use a terrific pharmacy, and the pharmacist understands that it is prescribed for chronic pain (not just junkies). Since beginning this med, I've had two promotions at work in three years, my marriage is happy again, and I'm not in agony wondering if I'll qualify for disability. The benefits far outweight any negatives, and I wish it would be recognized widely as a pain medication. Bless everyone who is trying to lead a normal life with chronic pain.

Nytviloet, maybe others will try suboxen or subutex. There is no need to take suboxen when subutex is now available for chronic pain. Subutex is cheaper and can be mixed with other drugs. I hear stories after stories like yours and mine how this med turn ours life around for us. I take 2 8mg tabs daily. It's an amazing pill.